of elmira



.April 18, 1933 D. WERTZ 1,904,184

AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 26. 1950' INVENTOR Danie L Lia/61 112,

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL L. WERTZ, OF ELMIBA, NEW YORK, A$SIGNOB 'I'O ECLIPSE MACHINE COIPANY, F ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK AUTOMATIC STARTING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed July 26,

This invention relates to electrical systems for internal combustion engines and more particularly to automatic starting and ignition systems for internal combustion engines having provisions for protecting the same against unauthorized use of the power plant.

Means have heretofore been provided for preventing unauthorized use of internalcomcontrolling the ignition circuits thereof, the leads from said switches being rotected by armored cable or the like. uch devices have also incorporated means for grounding the ignition circuits .when the ignition switches were open so as to prevent the use of jumper wires around the SWltCh8S,'OI of separate coils or batteries. Automatic starting systems which have heretofore been devised in which the starter is adapted to be automatically operated upon closure of the ignition switch have in general however not been protected further than by the use of some form of lock switch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines including novel means for protecting the saime against unauthorized use of the power p ant.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a system including a lock for the automatic starting'mechanism and in which the automatic starting mechanism is utilized to control the ignition system. A further object is the provision of such a system including a lock switch for controlling the automatic starting mechanism and in which the connection between the lock switch, the automatic starting mechanism and the ignition system of the power plant is protected by theft-resisting sheathing.

A still further object of the invention is -to provide such a system in which, when locked, the ignition circuit is rendered inoperative as by being grounded.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration bustion engines by means of lock switches 1930. Serial No. 471,075.

of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a conventional form of starting and ignition system for an internal combustion engine including a battery 10, having one terminal'grounded as at 11 and connected by means of a lead 12 through ammeter A, lead 13, automatic cutout 14, and lead 15 to one terminal of a generator G, the other terminal of which is grounded as indicated at 16. It will be understood that the generator G is suitably connected to be driven by the internal combustion engine, not illustrated, whereby the generator serves to charge the battery during the operation of the engine.

An automatic operatlng device indicated generally at 17 is-adapted to actuate a start-- er motor SM by means of current from battery 10 conducted by a lead 18 to a starting switch comprising fixed contact members 19, 21, and an insulated bridging member 20, through a single turn coil 22 and lead 23 to one terminal of said motor, the opposite terminal of which is grounded as indicated at 24. The bridging switch member 20 is mounted on a plunger 25 adapted to be 0perated by a solenoid 26, said switch member being suitably insulated from said plunger as indicated at 20'. One terminal of solenoid 26 is connected to the battery 10 by means of a lead 27, a lock switch 28 which may be mounted conveniently to the operator, and a lead 29 connected to the battery lead 18. The other terminal of solenoid 26 is normally grounded through a lead 30, normally closed contacts 31, 32, and ground connection 33. Contact 32 is formed on the end of a control relay plunger 34 and is normally held against stationary contact 31 by means such as a spring 35.' Contact 32 is also held magnetically in closed position durin the operation of the starting motor by the single turn coil 22 which is traversed by the starting current.

A coil 36 is arranged to surround the plunger 34 and is connected at one end by a lead 37' to the starting motor lead 23 and at 100 its other end to the ground by. means of a lead 38 to the ground connection 39. Coil 36 is adapted to open the contact 32 when the current through the single turn coil 22 is mfliciently weakened by the release of the load on the starting motor when the engine starts. A generator coil 40 is also arranged to surround the plunger 34 and is connected. at one end by a lead 41 to the generator Gr 1nd at its other end to the ground connection 39 through lead 38. This coil 40 is adapted to hold the plunger 32 open so long as the generator G is in operation.

Lock switch 28 may be of any suitable construction, and comprises two insulated switch members 28. and 28". Switch member 28 is adapted to control the circuit of solenoid 26, and switch'member 28 is arranged to ground the generator lead 41 of coil 40 when the switch 28 is operated to" open the circuit of solenoid 26. For this purposea lead 42 is arranged to connect the generator lead 41,with switch member 28", and a ground connection 43 is adapted to cooperate with switch member 28 when the switch 28 is locked with the member 28 in open position as indicated in Fig. 1.

The ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine includes a timing mechanism indicated generally at 44 which is connected by means of a lead-45 to a fixed contact member 46. An ignition switch member 47 is suitably hinged to the casing 48 of the automatic operating device as indicated at 49 in Fig. 2 and isgrounded thereon as indicated diagrammatically at 50. Switch member 47 is provided with a portion 51 bent back upon itself and adapted to contact on the inner side of such portion with the fixed contact 46. Switch member 47 also carries a contact 52 insulated therefrom and adapted to cooperate with the opposed surface of contact 46. Contact 52 is connected by a lead 53 with one terminal of the primary of a spark coil 54 the opposite terminal being connected to the battery lead 18 by a lead 55.

Switch member 47 is formed of magnetic material and is arranged opposite 'the end of a fixed pole piece 56 mounted in the ends of coils 36 and 40 so that energization of either of said coils will cause the switch member 47 to move the portion 51 thereof out of engagement with contact '46 and move the insulated contact 52 into engagement therewith. A second hinged magnetic member 57 is preferably pivoted to the casing 48 sub Stantially coaxially with switch member 47, in proximity to a fixed pole piece 58 of solenoid 26 and in overlapping relation with the edge of switch member 47. Energization of. solenoid 26 will thus attract the member 57 and cause it to move switch member 47 to close contacts 52 and 46. Means such as spring 59 is provided to normally maintain switch member 47 with the portion 51 thereoperating device.

of in engagement with contact 46, thus grounding the timer lead 45 at 50.

Switch member 28 is connected by means of a suitable theft-resisting sheath or armored cable 60 with the casing 48 of the automatic Timing mechanism 44 is also suitably encased and connected to the casing 48 by a sheath or cable 61.

In operation, and starting with the parts in the positions illustrated, closure of switch 28 by the operator breaks the generator ground connection 28", 43, and completes a circuit from battery 10 through leads 18 and 29,- switch member 28, lead 27, solenoid 26, lead 30 and contacts 31 and 32 to the ground at 33. The consequent energization of solenoid 26 attracts the magnetic switch member 57 which moves the switch member 47 to the left in Fig. 1 opening contacts 46, 51 and clos ing contacts 46,52. The ignition circuit for the internal combustion engine is thus completed from battery 10 through leads 18 and 55, coil 54, lead 53, contacts 52 and 46, and lead 45 to timing mechanism 44.

Energization of solenoid 26 also causes plunger 25 to be drawn inwardly thus moving the starting switch member 20 into engagement with contacts 19 and 21. This completes the starting circuit from battery 10 through lead 18, switchv members 19, 20, 21, single turn coil 22 and lead 23 to the starting motor. At this time the coil 36 is also energized from the starting motor circuit through lead 37 and lead 38 to the ground at 39 so that this coil tends to move contact 32 into open position, but this is prevented by the single turn coil 22 while the latter is be- Switch member 47 is also attracted toward I the pole piece 56 maintaining contacts 52, 46 closed.

When the engine starts, the load on the starting motor is relieved thus greatly reducing the current traversing the starting circuit. This weakens the efiect of the single turn coil 22 and at the same time raises the voltage applied to the coil 36, whereby the coil 36 is enabled to open the contact 32 thus breaking the circuit through solenoid 26.

Switch member 20 is thereupon moved to its open position by means of spring 62, thus opening the starting circuit, and magnetic switch member 57 is released. Coil 36 is disconnected from the battery when the starting circuit is opened, but retains suflicient magnetism to hold contact 32 in its open position and to maintain the ignition switch contact 52 in its closed position by reason of a small amount of current generated by the armature of the starting motor spinning by momentum in its residual field. Before the motor armature has stopped spinning, the generator G driven by the engine has built up sufiicient voltage to energize coil 40 and thus retain contact members 32 and 52 in their operative positions as long as the engine is in operation.

If the engine stalls for any reason, the coil 40 is deener ized and allows the contact member-32 to c ose and contact 52 to open. If the lock switch 28 has been left in its closed position, solenoid 26 will thereupon be energized and the starting operation will be repeated.

In case the engine makes a false start and then stops after the first explosion or two, the relay contact 32 is opened by the relief of the load on the motor, but the generator G'is not rotated sufficiently by the engine to build up and operate coil 40 to hold said contact open, The coil 36 then serves as above explained to hold the contact 32 in open position until the starting motor comes substantially to rest. The contact is thereupon allowed to close and the starting operation is repeated.

It will be understood that the'magnetic member 57 may be omitted, if so desired. Inthat case, when starting switch member 20 is closed by solenoid 26, the consequent energization of coil 36 will move switch member 47 to engage contact 52 with contact 46 and thus complete the ignition circuit.

To stop the engine and lock the device against the unauthorized operation it is merely necessary to manipulate the lock switch to move switch member 28 to open position and member 28 to closed position. The generator leapl 41 of coil 40 is thus grounded at 43. deenergizing coil 40 and thus releasing the ignition switch member 47. Contact 52 thereupon moves out of engages ment with contact 46, and contact portion 51 of switch member 47 moves into engagement with contact 46, thus opening the ignition circuit and grounding the timer lead 45 at 50. Under these circumstances the unauthorized operation of the engine will be impossible without removing the timer and substituting a different one, or cutting open the casings or protective sheaths, which operations are sufficiently diflicult to afford the desired protection.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that this embodiment is not exclusive and that various changes may be made in the forms and relationships of the elements thereof by those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Reference will therefore be had to the claims appended hereto for a. definition of the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is i 1. In an automatic starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a starting sw tch, an ignition circuit including an ignltlon switch, a solenoid for controlling said starting switch, a magnetic relay for opening said solenoid circuit when the engine starts, and means Whereb said magnetic relay closes the ignition switch during the starting operation ,and maintains it closed as long as the engine is in operation.

2. In an automatic starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a sarting switch, an ignition circuit including an ignition switch and timing mechanism, a solenoid for controlling said starting switch, a manual lock switch for closing and opening the circuit of said solenoid, a magnetic relay for opening said solenoid circuit when the engine starts, means whereby said magnetic relay closes the ignition switch during the starting operation and maintains it closed so long as the engine is in operation, and theft-resisting sheathing enclosing and connecting the solenoid operated switches, the lock switch and the timing mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

DANIEL L. WERTZ. 

